{"id":41799,"date":"2023-10-18T09:59:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T13:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtelehealth.com\/?p=41799"},"modified":"2023-10-18T09:59:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T13:59:59","slug":"fqhcs-must-get-creative-with-building-and-sustaining-remote-patient-monitoring-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/fqhcs-must-get-creative-with-building-and-sustaining-remote-patient-monitoring-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"FQHCs Must Get Creative with Building and Sustaining Remote Patient Monitoring Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are an important safety net for individuals who often do not have easy access to primary and preventive care. With a mission to ensure the delivery of high-quality, comprehensive health care services to these underserved communities, many FQHCs are now choosing to leverage technology \u2013 like remote patient monitoring (RPM) \u2013 to reach more individuals and take a proactive approach to their care that results in better outcomes and minimizes health care overall costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RPM\u2019s role in improving access to care<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the COVID-19 pandemic,\u00a0incorporating RPM into a patient\u2019s care<\/a>\u00a0has proven extremely effective for FQHCs. Services can be extended beyond traditional in-person visits, which is particularly important when monitoring patients for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, asthma and other chronic conditions. The patient-generated data also enhances continuity of care, allowing clinicians to identify potential red flags before they escalate into more complicated problems. By having a holistic view of the patient and taking proactive measures, FQHCs can ultimately reduce overall health care costs for both the patients and payers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, despite the early successes with RPM deployments and the obvious benefits from the initial grant funding FQHCs received for RPM projects and specific disease management initiatives during the pandemic, FQHCs still face significant uncertainty about how to pay for these beneficial programs long term, as those grants are limited in scope and duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming current obstacles in RPM reimbursement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the reimbursement currently stands, Medicare does not reimburse FQHCs or rural health centers (RHCs) for RPM activity. Additionally, Medicaid coverage varies greatly by state. Currently, 34 state Medicaid programs provide RPM reimbursements<\/a>, but this coverage often does not include FQHCs. Many Medicaid programs also have restrictions \u2013 such as limiting the types of clinical conditions for which symptoms can be monitored, the devices used and the information that can be collected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To keep RPM programs running, and potentially consider expanding their use, FQHCs have needed to find creative ways to pay for them. Among the approaches are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n